Great Escape on a Trail: October 2020

Monday, October 5, 2020

Rocky Top

GSMNP Trailhead to Clingman's Dome

AT miles hiked - 200.0

AT miles to go - 1,993.0

Friday, October 2nd, Craig dropped me off at the trailhead for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park section just beyond Fontana Dam. I was back on trail by 8:00 am. My pack felt very heavy with 3 1/2 days of food and cold weather gear. The day's hike was almost all climbing. First was the 3 1/2 mile climb up Shuckstack Mountain to the old fire tower there. The weather was sunny, but very cool and breezy all day. The fire tower was pretty sketchy with hardly any railings and swaying in the wind. I only climbed to the first landing before I decided the view from there would have to do. My destination for the day was Mollie's Ridge shelter and total mileage was just under 11 miles. It was another cold night, in the low 40s, but once I got bundled into my sleeping bag I was warm enough.

Entering the GSMNP.

At the open ledges on the climb to Shuckstack.

A view from the Shuckstack fire tower.

Chimney from the old ranger's cabin on Shuckstack.

Saturday was another very tough day. Although I slept okay, my legs never fully recovered from all the climbing the previous day and my right ankle complained the entire way. The day was again sunny and cool. Lots of climbing again. In fact, the hike through the Smokies began to feel like one endless climb. The highlight of the day was making it to the summit of Rocky Top for some beautiful views. Frankly though, by the time I made the summit I was so exhausted I didn't enjoy the views as much as I should have. But I did take a break and ate some lunch before continuing on. Rocky Top was followed by another climb over Thunderhead Mountain. I made it to my planned stop at Derrick Knob shelter by late afternoon and enjoyed one of the better meals in my pack - a Mountain House Chili Mac. Mileage for the day was just under 12.

Fall colors on the way up Rocky Top.

A view from "good ol' Rocky Top."

Exhausted after the Rocky Top climb.

Another view from Rocky Top.

Sunday was the finish at Clingman's Dome, the highest peak on the Appalachian Trail. My original plan had been to hike all the way through the GSMNP and then resume my thru-hike next year. However, as the day progressed and my ankle continued to complain the entire way, I decided a change of plans was in order. I had planned to stop at Double Springs Gap shelter and then climb Clingman's on Monday morning on my way to Newfound Gap. Having all morning to ponder on it as I continued climbing, I decided the 200 mile mark at Clingman's Dome would make a great stopping point - and more importantly an easier time and location for my brother to pick me up. So I pushed on for a total of 10.5 miles to reach the parking area at Clingman's. I didn't actually climb the last 0.3 miles to the observation tower at the summit as I decided I wanted to save that for a possible finishing location next year. My current plan is to resume my hike somewhere north of the Smokies and then, when and if I make it to Katahdin, to flip back down and finish the Smokies going southbound back to Clingman's.

A Common Garter snake crossing the trail.

A view on the climb to Clingman's Dome.

Another view from Clingman's Dome.

And yet one more view from Clingman's.

Over the next several months, I plan to continue hiking and doing Summits on the Air activations until I resume my AT hike next spring. Blog posts may be less frequent, but I'll still be updating my adventures.

"Rocky Top" - Osborne Brothers

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Jacob's Ladder

Stecoah Gap, NC to Fontana Dam and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP)

AT miles hiked - 167.4

AT miles to go - 2,025.6

Wednesday, September 30th, was a beautiful day for hiking. Craig dropped me at Stecoah Gap a few minutes after 8:00 am. It was clear, breezy and quite chilly, probably in the low 50s. I slack packed from Stecocah Gap to Yellow Creek Gap, just 7.67 miles. The first part of the hike included a fairly steep, mile long climb to called "Jacob's Ladder." I last hiked this section over 10 years ago with me son, Jacob, as we were training for our backpacking trip at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Neither of us will ever forgot that day. Soon after topping out of the climb, Jacob was a ways behind me when I heard him yelling. As I turned back to see what the matter was, he came running in my direction. One of us had somehow stirred up a ground nest of yellow jackets and he was being attacked by them. He was stung something like eight times before we could escape them. What a day! Fortunately, no yellow jacket encounters this time through! My right ankle was a little tender, but nothing too serious. I had one partial view through the trees to a branch of Fontana lake. The sky was clear all morning and the mountains looked crisp in the fall weather. I arrived at Yellow Creek Gap at 12:30 and ate my sandwich while waiting for Craig to come pick me up.

A view southeast from Stecoah Gap.

Fontana Lake in the distance.

Cody Gap.

Thursday, I slack packed again. Craig and I dropped my truck at the trailhead entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and then he drove me back to Yellow Creek Gap where I resumed my hike northbound. It was quite cool and misty, but I had a climb right at the beginning, so warmed up quickly. Before long, I had gained enough elevation to be above the mists and the sun was out, but most of the trail was in the trees with no views to speak of. At the about the six mile mark I emerged from the forest into the parking area for the Fontana Village Resort Marina. There was a beautiful Coke machine outside the restrooms and I made beeline for it, only to find it required exact change and I didn't have any. In despair, I turned around and saw a sign advertising snacks, drinks, etc. at the Fontana Marina. Hooray! I walked down to the marina and bought a coke and a hotpocket for lunch. Refreshed, I continue on my way. I passed the famous Fontana Hilton shelter and then crossed the Fontana Dam. Looming off to the right was a great view of Shuckstack mountain and the fire tower at the top - Friday morning's first introduction to the GSMNP.